Curriculum
Statement of Principle
We will provide all scholars with opportunities to access and engage with the best that has been thought and said and we will help scholars to comprehend that while knowledge is powerful it is also insecure, contested and evolving. We encourage our students to see themselves as scholars.
Overarching Intent
Djanogly City Academy has developed a flexible, innovative and student focused curriculum, deliberately designed to equip scholars with the knowledge and skills to be successful in their examinations and to prepare them for future study. Lessons are designed to be inspiring and engaging, with learning and achievement as the core focus.
We aim to:
- ensure our scholars follow a knowledge-led curriculum through which they know and remember more
- ensure literacy and numeracy are prominent within our curriculum and these act as a gateway to acquiring core knowledge
- provide a rich range of subjects and develop scholars’ expertise within those individual subject disciplines
- empower scholars to use an enriched vocabulary, enabling a better understanding of concepts and ideas, and facilitate access to knowledge beyond our scholars’ ordinary daily experiences
- expand scholars' cultural capital by exposing them to a wide range of creative and performing arts and thoughtfully-planned learning outside the classroom
- provide a rich and extensive extra-curricular offer to support the development of our scholars' character and prepare them for life as balanced, happy well-rounded individuals, who can succeed
- support scholars so they can develop and look after their mental wellbeing
Curriculum Intent
At Djanogly City Academy our moto is ‘Achievement: No Excuses’, with a mantra that ‘Everybody Graduates’. Through our curriculum, we ensure that every scholar is able to reach their absolute best, regardless of their background or ability.
We aim to improve the life chances for all scholars. The intent of our curriculum is to give all scholars the necessary foundations for success by helping them to develop knowledge and attributes necessary and relevant in the 21st century.
We expect our scholars to achieve their individual best academically and to develop the self-confidence and sense of purpose necessary for success in a highly competitive global society. Scholars achieve their best through our comprehensive curriculum and the high quality implementation of that curriculum; we ensure it is knowledge-rich and is both broad and balanced, regardless of demographics and starting points.
The high expectations we have within the academy drive opportunities for all of our young people. We are proud of the local community we serve and we draw on our understanding of this to create challenging, stimulating and contextualised lessons and activities as part of our curriculum.
Curriculum teams work together to plan well-sequenced schemes of learning, thinking carefully about the ‘what’ and ‘why’ in order to help scholars become increasingly knowledgeable and able to make sense of complex concepts. We recognise the importance of expert teachers with strong subject and pedagogical knowledge and are therefore committed to providing regular and high-quality training throughout the year, ensuring curriculum teams have dedicated time for subject-specific development. We are passionate about our professional learning community and support the development of all colleagues through our career pathway and ‘Journey 2 Excellence’ review process.
Djanogly City Academy is part of the Djanogly Learning Trust, allowing and promoting a collaboration of subject specialists and researchers, meaning that our scholars benefit from the very highest quality in teaching and the most powerful knowledge. We harness the expertise from within Djanogly City Academy and the Trust primary academies to develop a challenging and rich curriculum model.
Curriculum Implementation
We operate a one-week timetable with six 1-hour lessons and one 30 minute RSE lesson per day, Monday to Thursday, and three 1-hour lessons with 30 minutes reading on Friday. In addition, there are a wide range of enrichment opportunities after school each day, ranging from academic support to broader interests such as sport, the Arts and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Scholars across all year groups have access to careers education and guidance and we are committed to helping our scholars develop the knowledge and skills needed to live fulfilling lives. We are committed to achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks and beyond, ensuring there is a strong link to careers within the curriculum and scholars have encounters with higher education and employers and opportunities to take part in work experience.
At Key Stage 4 (years 10 and 11), scholars choose options which include a wide range of GCSE and vocational courses and all of our scholars receive detailed individual advice and guidance to ensure that they choose the right options for them to access further study.
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) and Citizenship are taught through a series of discrete daily lessons as part of our Values programme. We seek to challenge stereotypical thinking and raise aspirations through a variety of PSHE strands delivered to every year group, including Health and Wellbeing, Relationships, Living in the Wider World and also through the development of key skills and attributes such as tolerance, resilience, respect and critical thinking.
Key Stage 3 Three-Year Programme
At Key Stage 3, our three-year programme uses the inherent breadth in the National Curriculum as its guide. Scholars follow a wide and varied curriculum that includes:
Core - English, Mathematics and Science
Foundation – History, Geography, Art, Drama, Music, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Spanish, Religious Education and Physical Education.
Within the key stage, we deliver an enrichment program, where scholars opt into a wide range of other subjects or areas of study.
For information on each of the individual subjects, visit our subjects section below.
Key Stage 4 Two-Year Programme
At Key Stage 4, our two-year programme sees scholars study a core curriculum of English, mathematics, science, history or geography and physical education. Then in addition, scholars choose to specialise in option subjects, including art and design, design technology, computer science, psychology, sociology, Spanish, drama, music and sports studies/PE.
For information on each of the individual subjects, visit our subjects section below.
Extra-Curricular
The academy offers opportunities for scholars to take part in a full programme of extra-curricular activities, each day Monday to Thursday, from 3:45 to 4:30pm. There are also sports clubs where scholars have the opportunity to represent the academy in competitions and events including football, netball, athletics, cross country running, cricket and table tennis. The school takes great pride in the creative talent that our scholars demonstrate and showcases this in performances and talent shows.
Curriculum Approach
Our school day starts at 8.25am and finishes at 3.45pm (with optional enrichment to 4.30pm), Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am to 12.30pm on a Friday. Scholars have a 45 minute lunch break. In addition to this, scholars also receive a forum and values session for 30 minutes in the middle of the day, Monday to Thursday, with reading, values and ‘PayCheck’ to the end week on Fridays.
A shape of the day can be found on our Shape of the Day page
Find out more on the subject pages or contact the school via your child's Head of Year or DCAreceptionGB@djanogly.notts.sch.uk
DCA Curriculum Policy 2022-2023
Subjects
Art and Design
If you enjoy being creative, want to increase your practical skills and improve your analytical, communication and research abilities, art and design is a great choice. The skills you gain make it a great complement to other subjects. Art and Design is a way of seeing things and making sense of the world around you. It can help you with further study and prepare you for the world of work.
For further information - click here
Computer Science
All scholars at Key Stage 3 are taught Computer Science and ICT. We want scholars to be confident and safe users of commonly used digital technologies, such as mobile phones, social media and the internet. We also want them to learn practical elements, such as; programming, image editing and game development. At Key Stage 4, we offer 2 courses. BTEC Digital Information Technology and GCSE Computer Science.
For further information - click here
Design & Technology
The subject of Design & Technology incorporates a number of specialist areas of study including Product design, graphic design, electronics and the use of some textile materials.
The subject links directly to a wide range of career pathways that are both fun and challenging. In keeping with the school aims our fundamental expectations of scholars are that they take pride in their work, always strive to do their best and respect the work of others.
For further information - click here
Drama
Djanogly strives in allowing scholars to creatively study the arts, allowing scholars in Key Stage 3 to be introduced to the topic through the choice of 5 week electives. This allows scholars to really begin to understand the main concepts of studying and practicing the performing arts. For those who decided to continue to select drama as a GCSE option will begin their journey in year 10 focusing on the study of play texts, practitioners and acting practice over a two year course.
For further information - click here
English
At Djanogly, the English curriculum is based around literature. We believe that reading a wide range of texts not only improves our scholars' performance in the English Literature exam, but also develops their skills as writers, and broadens their horizons and perspectives, making them better citizens and future leaders.
For further information - click here
Food
Information coming soon
For further information - click here
Geography
Welcome to the Humanities Department where every student is encouraged to learn about the world around them through geography, history and religious studies. Our vision is to inspire scholars to be curious about the past, evaluate the present and consider their impact on the future.
For further information - click here
History
Welcome to the Humanities Department where every scholar is encouraged to learn about the world around them through geography, history, and religious studies. Our vision is to inspire scholars to be curious about the past, evaluate the present and consider their impact on the future.
For further information - click here
Languages
Welcome to the languages department where scholars are encouraged to learn about their own and different languages. The main language offered is Spanish and we also encourage scholars to complete a GCSE in their home language too. Our vision is to inspire scholars to be curious about other cultures and concepts and consider their awareness of others.
For further information - click here
Maths
All our staff have a real passion for mathematics and engaging scholars within our subject area. We know the value of mathematics qualifications in the world of work but also believe in sharing the importance and beauty of the subject to inspire the mathematicians of tomorrow.
For further information - click here
Music
Music provides an opportunity for scholars to perform, listen to and evaluate music across a range of musical genres, historical periods, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians throughout time. Scholars will develop confidence as performers through a range of performance opportunities, particularly through keyboard and percussion workshops. They will develop an understanding of ‘how’ music is created through the Elements of Music. They will listen to, discuss and analyse music from a breadth of genres, styles and cultures - understanding ‘how’ music fits into context
For further information - click here
Physical Education
At Djanogly, scholars participate in a wide range of activities that look to develop the individual on a personal level and as a member of a team. The PE staff are experienced and passionate about the delivery of PE to each and every student in the Academy. We look to include every scholar in every lesson so that they can improve and progress to meet at the very least their expected levels of progress. Our PE curriculum is designed around our first class facilities and venues available that include a sports hall, astro-turf, netball courts, swimming pool, fitness suite and the use of the developing Forest Recreation Grounds at the Gregory Boulevard site.
For further information - click here
We operate a post-16 course, Btec Level 3 in Sport, in the PE department which we are very proud of and the details of which can be found here.
Religious Education
Welcome to the Humanities Department where every scholar is encouraged to learn about the world around them through geography, history and religious studies. Our vision is to inspire scholars to be curious about the past, evaluate the present and consider their impact on the future.
For further information - click here
RSHE
As an academy we put the needs of the scholars in our care first. We know it’s important for them to be literate and numerate with appropriate qualifications to prepare them for further education of work, but we also know that scholars need to develop their social and emotional skills. Our RSHE curriculum is carefully planned to ensure that all scholars are informed about healthy relationships at an appropriate level for their age and development.
For further information - click here
Science
At Djanogly we strive to deliver a high-quality science education that provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all scholars should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes, and uses of science.
For further information - click here
Social Sciences
Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour. It is an academic subject and an applied science which seeks to understand individuals and groups by establishing general principles and researching specific cases. Scholars will gain experience in planning and conducting classroom research on human behaviour using a variety of methods. They will be expected to analyse data collected in investigations at a descriptive level and draw conclusions based on research findings.
For further information - click here
